FAQs

Technical Questions

We do not have any commercial support or product advertising associated with our educational activities. If you see links, pop up ads, or other advertisements once you open our courseware, then the problem is associated with malware on your computer. Please contact your IT department and/or update antivirus software on your computer for an improved learning experience.

Your username is typically your e-mail address. Your password must be at least 6 characters - it was created by you when you initially registered. If you have forgotten your password, you can have a temporary new password e-mailed to you simply by clicking on the "Forgot Password" link under the login form.

This means that your computer does not have the Flash Player (version 11.0 or better) installed. Download the free Flash Player at www.adobe.com. Installation only takes a few seconds. Once the Player is downloaded, close and restart all web browser windows and then re-login to Apex courseware.

Your internet browser must have time to load the proper Flash Player, or your pop-up blocker may be preventing its installation. Close and restart all web browser windows and then re-login to Apex courseware.

Your screen resolution is most likely not set to 1024 x 768. Right-click on your computer desktop and select 'Properties'. Find the 'Settings' tab, and use the slider bar to increase your screen resolution to 1024 x 768.

Your page may not be centered on your monitor screen, or most likely your screen resolution is not set to 1024 x 768. Center your screen by dragging the top bar to the center of your screen. If this does not resolve the issue, you may need to check or change your screen resolution.

The first time you access any Apex courseware a number of images are pre-loaded into your cache, so that when you re-visit a page, the image loads itself immediately. Also, when you access the program from a different computer, you may see the pre-loaders for some of the pages.

The courseware from Apex Innovations is constantly being upgraded and updated. Whenever there is a change made to a page, an image or information in the program, it is considered by your computer as a 'first time viewed' page. Any pre-loader activity may be seen only the first time you view that new page. Be sure to review the page for any new information.

From time to time we will send an email to everyone who currently has access to any Apex courseware whenever there are any major modifications, significant enhancements or additions to the program. Updates to specific pages will be identified in the courseware with the menu name in bold, and major guideline updates will be identified in the revision history icon.

Your computer may not have received all of the data needed to load the courseware and as such, some assets may not be loading properly. To remedy this, please clear your browsers cache and reload the courseware. For more information about clearing cache, please visit RefreshYourCache.com

Products

As with any education program, an individual will complete lessons at varying rates. Course time varies based on individual skill level, content complexity, and continuing education time requirements. Once the lesson is completed, a timed test is required to receive attendance or CE certificates.

Any level can be accessed by selecting your desired course at the top of the page. You can navigate within each level via the sub-menu on the left-side of the screen or you can use the "previous" and "next" buttons at the top of each page. The Apex courseware is filled with Intelligent Interactivity® to improve user experience and enhance learning. New functionality includes an icon bar and the ability to search within the program for a specific term. The icon bar includes key questions to improve your knowledge, additional information on items of added interest, revision history for major guideline updates, related links for your reference, a bookmark for your favorite pages, and a comment icon to send us your valued feedback. Also functionality may include an Apex Community icon to share information and/or a drawing tool to highlight or circle important content on each page. Once you login, you can see detailed instructions by viewing the User Guide.

One of the most important requirements is to have high-speed internet access. While the program may function over a low-bandwidth connection such as dial-up, your experience may not prove satisfactory. You will also need the latest Flash Player (version 11.0 or above) to view all of our high-intensity graphics. If you are unsure of which Flash version you are running, go to the My Curriculum page and click on "Tech Support Info" button. This will tell you which version of Flash you are currently using. If needed, download the latest Player, free of charge, at www.adobe.com.

You will need to create a new account on our site and enter the license key in order to unlock the courseware. If you already have an account on our site, login as usual and then click on the "Register License Key" button in the left menu panel of the My Curriculum page. If you have any difficulties accessing the program, please call our customer support center for technical support 24/7, toll free at 866-294-4599 x111.

Because our courseware is web-based, once you create an account you may log on from any computer, anywhere in the world. Be sure that the computer you are using meets our suggested minimum requirements.

Testing may only be repeated 3 times, excluding EHAC and NIHSS, for each course. With the exception of EHAC and NIHSS, all testing is timed and user participation requires a score of 80% or greater to receive a CE hour certificate or completion certificate. Earned CE credits may be claimed only once annually.

The NIHSS certification test is not timed and may be repeated as many times as desired to obtain a passing score or to improve your score. A score of 93% or greater is required for successful completion to become NIH Stroke Scale certified and to receive the appropriate certificate. Earned CE credits may be claimed only once annually.

The EHAC test is not timed and may be repeated as many times as desired to obtain a passing score of 70% or to improve your score. After finishing the short quiz, you can take the EHAC deputization pledge and print your completion certificate. There are no CE hours associated with this program.

Hemispheres 2.0® is beneficial to stroke centers, potential stroke centers, or those in need of current, consistent, stroke education and resources for staff and patients. It delivers eight levels of content in a unique, interactive, web-based format for use by both individuals and organizations. We designed Hemispheres 2.0® specifically to support staff education for healthcare professionals.

For current continuing education (CE) credit and accreditation information for Hemispheres 2.0®, please see the CE credit page. After successfully testing (80% or better for Levels I-VII, 93% or better for Level VIII), and completing the course evaluation, you may print your completion and/or CE certificate.

imPULSE 2.0

imPULSE 2.0® is a comprehensive, chest pain competency series AND includes the Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC) Training and Deputization program! The eight levels of imPULSE 2.0® are Anatomy and Physiology, Electrocardiograms, Rhythms, 12 Lead ECGs, Acute Coronary Syndrome, Advanced & Special Situations, a Reference Library, and EHAC.

imPULSE 2.0® is beneficial to chest pain centers, potential chest pain centers, or those of need of current, consistent, ECG and chest pain education and resources for staff and patients. It delivers eight levels of content in a unique, interactive, web-based format for use by both individuals and organizations. We designed imPULSE 2.0® specifically to support staff education for healthcare professionals.

For current continuing education (CE) credit and accreditation information for imPULSE 2.0®, please see the CE credit page. After successfully testing (80% or better for Levels I-VII, 70% or better for Level VIII), and completing the course evaluation, you may print your completion and/or CE certificate.

Sepsis - A Systemic Response

Sepsis - A Systemic ResponseTM is a four level competency series that delivers exciting and relevant content, reinforcing your hospital's sepsis program. Educating staff will ensure everyone is sepsis-knowledgeable, sepsis competent, and give the clinical staff the best opportunity to improve outcomes for the sepsis patient.

We provide ancillary staff with basic introduction to Sepsis (Level I), with a focus on recognition, response, and prevention. The clinical staff will be able to learn about this potentially life threatening condition, with a focused look at the body’s overwhelming response to pathogen invasion. Staff will benefit from sepsis assessment and screening, guideline-based interventions, and transitions of care when caring for this patient population.

For current continuing education (CE) credit for Sepsis - A Systemic ResponseTM, please see the CE credit page. Once you have successfully passed the test after each level (80% or better), you may print a course completion and /or CE certificate (for Levels II, III, and IV). Level I does not have CE credit, so only a course completion certificate is available. To submit for CE credit, a course evaluation is required.

Heart Failure - Focused

Heart Failure - FocusedTM is a three-level heart failure competency series that provides essential information in an easy to understand, engaging format. This program is a spin-off from Heart Failure - Comprehensive with just the right amount of required annual education for accreditation.

This course is designed for direct care nurses and other clinical staff involved in the care of heart failure patients. Healthcare organizations can use this program to achieve or maintain heart failure accreditation or certification, and to improve overall performance, reimbursement, and reduce patient readmissions.

For current continuing education (CE) credit and accreditation information for Heart Failure – Focused, please see the CE credit Page. Once you have successfully passed the test after each level (80% or better for Levels I-III), you may print a course completion and/or certificate. To submit for CE credit, a course evaluation is required.

Heart Failure - Comprehensive

Heart Failure - ComprehensiveTM expands and reinforces your knowledge of heart failure through six interactive courses. You will learn the complexity of heart failure as a clinical syndrome, as well as a progressive disease. The basics to advanced content includes a focus on signs and symptoms, assessment, risk scoring, guideline-directed management, and contributors to exacerbation.

This educational series is designed for any healthcare professional involved in the care of heart failure patients. It makes difficult heart failure concepts, such as hemodynamics, easy to understand. Heart Failure - Comprehensive is a must-do series for heart failure certification and accreditation.

Canadian Hemispheres 2.0™ is beneficial for Canadian healthcare professionals (nurses, physicians, medics), novice to advanced, who would like to stay up-to-date on the best practice recommendations for stroke care. It delivers eight levels of content from brain and neuro basics to ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke care, prevention, management and excellence, in a unique, graphic and interactive format. Canadian Hemispheres 2.0™ supports individual and organizational annual education, orientation and continuing education.

For current continuing education (CE) credit and accreditation information for Canadian Hemispheres 2.0™, please see the CE credit page. After successfully testing (80% or better for Levels I-VI, 93% or better for Level VIII), and completing the course evaluation, you may print your completion and/or CE certificate.

Responder

Responder® is an online, interactive STEMI Recognition course which includes a review of Acute Coronary Syndrome, ECG lead placement, emergency response time goals, and pre-hospital decisions. STEMI recognition is promoted through the use of case studies, ECG drills, and ECG interpretation. Also included in the program is the importance of a STEMI System of Care, Excellence in STEMI Care, Multidisciplinary Team Coordination, STEMI System Metrics, and Resources.

Responder® is beneficial for pre-hospital and emergency medical personnel, or those in need of ACS-STEMI education and resources. The content is presented in a unique, interactive, web-based format for use by both individuals and organizations. We designed Responder® specifically to support staff education for healthcare professionals.

For current continuing education (CE) credit and accreditation information for Responder®, please see the CE credit page. After successfully testing (80% or better), and completing the course evaluation, you may print your completion and/or CE certificate.

NIH Stroke Scale Training & Certification

The NIH Stroke Scale is a neurological examination used to measure the patient's status after a stroke and in assessing the outcome after treatment. Among stroke neurologists and neuroscience nurses, it is the most widely used stroke deficit scale. The NIH Stroke Scale contains parameters for observing changes in the patient's neurological status and measuring stroke severity.

The program is a training video developed by neurologists from the University of Cincinnati, the University of Iowa, and the National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH-NINDS). Included are discussion points and patient demonstration for each of the 11-item neurological exams. To complete this activity, you must complete all of the exercises, pass the test with a score of 93% or better and complete the participant feedback tool.

Test Group A is the initial test group for first time NIH Stroke Scale certifications. Subsequent patient test groups are presented for certification renewals and are presented in sequential order for retesting after successful completion of the previous test group.

The NIH Stroke Scale certification through Apex Innovations is valid for one year from the initial testing date for Patient Group A. The expiration for all other subsequent patient groups is two years from the testing date.

Free E-learning

EHAC is a public awareness campaign and a free educational program authored by Dr. Raymond Bahr and promoted by the ACC Accreditation Services. The goal is to educate the public about the early warning signs and symptoms of an impending heart attack. EHAC means Early Heart Attack Care and stresses the message that heart attacks have beginnings and the public can help with recognition and response as well as pledge to act to save a life.

EHAC is for the public to learn about Early Heart Attack Care. It was developed and authored by Dr. Raymond Bahr and is promoted by the ACC Accreditation Services to stress the message that heart attacks have beginnings. EHAC is a required educational component for hospitals seeking Chest Pain Center Certification. It is designed for all hospital staff, clinical and non-clinical, who can help with recognition and response of Early Heart Attack Care to save a life.

The NIH Stroke Scale is a 11-item neurological examination used to measure the patient's status after a stroke. After a baseline score is attained, the scale also contains parameters for observing changes in the patient's neurological status and measuring stroke severity. This free NIHSS educational program is a series of training videos developed by neurologists from the University of Cincinnati, the University of Iowa, and the National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH-NINDS). Included in the videos are discussion points and patient demonstrations to help you perform and score this patient assessment accurately.

NIHSS education and certification is for all clinical staff who are involved in the care of the stroke patient. The scale is a clinical assessment tool used to measure the patient's status after a stroke. It is used during the initial assessment and treatment and throughout the hospital stay. The scale is usually performed by Emergency room physicians or nurses, neurologist, inpatient nurses, therapist, or other members of the acute stroke team.